A rambling train of thoughts about the universe and our micro solar system consisting of our dear Sun and other planets in a magnetic dance while we hurtle through space on the face of a rock and stare at flat screens where we attempt to connect while we detach.

Thursday, April 2, 2015

#fracking Gaz, er nG, er Gas updates

#Fracking

#Gaz #Pipeline in #AddisonCounty Vermont, US

In fact so many that (believe me, small town) Monkton, Vermont, US Banned Fracking....

Oh yah, nah nah nah,

you didn't ban the pipelines,

suck it up,

smell the gaz?

Enough of my rants.

Here is a summary of the press I could manages to save. There are hundreds of emails I cannot get to. Gas leaks, land takings, intimidation by corporations, being ignored by politicians, unconcerned with one, this time it happens to be me.

A Great letter to the editor:

from the addison ind. shared by friends of mother earth...

Posted on March 23, 2015 |

Vermont’s scenic beauty has always been highly valued both by
Vermonters and by visitors to our lovely state.

In 1968 Vermont banned billboards to prevent the despoiling of
Vermont’s landscape. And when Act 250 was enacted a few years after that, it
included Criterion 8, which prohibits commercial or industrial development that
would create an “undue adverse impact” on the scenic or natural beauty,
aesthetics, historic sites or natural areas.

In 1986, the Environmental Board convened a group of people with
expertise on aesthetics to develop an objective way of evaluating what is an
“undue adverse” impact on aesthetics and scenic and natural beauty.

The result is the “Quechee Analysis.” It has been used to evaluate
aesthetic impacts in dozens of cases by the Environmental Board (EB),
Environmental Court (EC), and Public Service Board (PSB) and upheld by the
Vermont Supreme Court (VSC) over the last three decades.

The Quechee Analysis has two steps. The first is to determine if a
project will cause an adverse effect on aesthetics. If the impact will be
adverse, then the second step involves addressing three questions. The impact
will be undue if any one of the questions is answered in the affirmative.

One of the questions is whether a project would offend the
sensibilities of the average person. If it is so out of character with its
surroundings or significantly diminishes the scenic qualities of the area so as
to be shocking or offensive to the average person, the adverse impact is
considered undue and a project is denied. The EB explained the purpose of this
provision: Criterion 8 was intended to ensure that as development does
occur,?reasonable consideration will be given to the visual impacts on
neighboring landowners, the local community, and on the special scenic resources
of Vermont.

The VSC has consistently upheld the EB and EC decisions on aesthetics
that applied the Quechee Analysis.

When the review of telecommunications towers and large-scale solar
and wind installations was transferred from Act 250 to the PSB, the law required
the PSB to give due consideration to some of Act 250’s criteria, including
Criterion 8 on aesthetics.

In the past, the PSB’s interpretation of the Quechee Analysis was
consistent with that of the EB in ensuring that development did not degrade
Vermont’s scenic views, including those enjoyed by neighbors.

For example, in a 2001 case, the PSB denied a wind tower, ruling that
“because … the Project will be in the direct view of the (neighbors) from their
home and will significantly diminish their enjoyment of the scenic view from
their home … the Project will be offensive and shocking to them and to the
average person in a similar situation.” In denying the project, the PSB
accurately applied the Quechee Analysis as established in legal precedent. The
decision was upheld in 2002 by the Vermont Supreme Court.

But, the PSB no longer considers the interests of neighboring
landowners. Every decision issued by the PSB on solar and wind projects has
dismissed the interests of the neighbors, ruling that because they are most
likely to be affected by the project, they cannot be considered the “average
person.”

The PSB’s finding is especially nonsensical because in order to
participate at all, neighbors must show that they have a particularized interest
that is greater than the interests of the public at large. But then the PSB uses
that particularized interest to ignore the neighbors entirely.

Thus in order to be able to participate in the proceeding, neighbors
must prove that their interests (e.g., views) will be affected, but then because
their views are affected, the PSB says that their interests (e.g., views) should
not be taken into account. They base this absurd reasoning on their made up
notion that a person who is directly affected cannot be the “average person”
that the Quechee Analysis considers.

Although the PSB says that it applies the Quechee Analysis, in fact
the PSB is completely ignoring long-standing legal precedent.

The PSB is also contradicting the EB and its own precedent by ruling
that municipal zoning ordinances do not constitute clear written community
standards for purposes of the Quechee Analysis.

In its zeal to approve every single telecommunications tower and
renewable energy project in the state, the PSB is fabricating its own
interpretations of the law regardless of the standards of the local community
and it is allowing the scenic beauty of Vermont — that was so carefully
protected over so many years — to become degraded.

Vermonters can speak to the House and Senate Natural Resources and
Energy Committees at a public hearing on renewable energy siting on March 24,
from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Statehouse in Montpelier. Please come and let
legislators know that protecting Vermont’s scenic beauty is important and that
communities and neighbors must be a respected part of the process in the
development of new utility infrastructure.

Stephanie Kaplan

Calais

Annette Smith

Danby

Stephanie Kaplan is former counsel for the Environmental Board. Annette
Smith is executive director of Vermonters for a Clean Environment.

Regulators weigh penalties....huh? How much does a penalty weigh? Pints a pound the world around?

NASA's New Horizons: A Heart from Pluto

Lake Champlain

the challenges of freedom

My words were simply, "I cannot comprehend this." when told an excuse that my absentee ballot hadn't been mailed because.....I lost the rest. I filled out the absentee ballot form. Finally I wrote to the town front porch forum. Here it is:

School Revote

MARY GERDT

I did not receive an absentee ballot for the recent revote of the school vote. Apparently none were sent? Or did you receive one and mine was omitted? I prefer to vote at home. I signed the paper for absentee ballots. The Secretary of state said it is up to me to enforce the election rules. It is up to me to ask the town clerk to explain, go to court if need be. No, my body cannot take any more of that. My vote was not counted. If you like that policy, carry on. Just don't presume to know all the reasons I do not want to vote out in public. I thought that is what absentee ballots were all about.

update 5.19.15 follow up post to front porch forum

Several issues back I inquired if others in Monkton did not receive absentee ballots for the town school budget re-vote. I got no response. I do not interpret that as apathy or a conspiracy against me, although I am sorely tempted to take the easy way out. It is stuck in my craw, the assistant town clerk (why did we need an assistant?) said we talked it over and it was too late to send the absentee ballots out. Now I will reiterate I do not have the energy to fight this town over not being able to vote on a budget that affects the taxation on our property. I will submit to the reader that if you tolerate this, it is a slippery slope. Oh, and fair warning: when you fill out the form from the Secretary of State of Vermont for absentee voting for the year, and send it to the Town clerk or assistant, don't expect that you will receive the ballots as requested. Then when you don't, guess "they" decided there wasn't enough time. My vote was never counted.

What if you could help tell the history of 1960's #NYC #GreenwichVillage? You can, See Richard...

Monkton Chronicles

Monkton Chronicles,

November 2016

Thanksgiving Week

It's been 7 months since I have put out an article about this town. Pipeline Fighters, Political Sparring, Health and Fatigue have dominated my summer. Now Summer and Fall are behind us. The first snow a gentle morning. A new America is forming, baby boomers aging, parties losing, party winning. Not worth crying about, little snowflakes, we all melt away in the end. We scraped up what silver we had to pay the taxman. Narrowly paid, avoiding being pinched by zero tolerance tax collectors. shortly after that our 11 year old pellet stove died. It was a good run. Fred and son installed our new stove. toasty warm. hopefully you are warm wherever you are. best wishes, meg

April 2016

4.30.16

I have neglected my lonely Chronicles, Times are tough in this idyllic state of chaos. Vermont, of course, is what I mean. Vermont and Vermonters, genuine and those who "identify as Vermonters" can take credit for the steady as he goes, In full command, Silver Warrior, Bernie Sanders. I predicted he will win the nomination. I still believe that. Locally the steadily advancing Northern front of the Canadian free for all Gaz pipeline. They are carving their way to the Tree that they killed, in fact, many hardwoods. They chipped them, all. Come on down and look. I don't know what the answer is. Addie could only stay up in that tree so long. We warriors for the planet feel we have been here before. And hope we may stop the madness that supports fracking in #Alberta. Town of Monkton, Vermont has a website if you care to peruse the gas pipeline stuff. It all makes me sick.

Spring is being her usual stubborn self in the North Country. The Sunlight has been marvelous. Code word: Sunlight = Arctic air...brr.

May will start a little warmer and badly needed rain. That will wash the pollen down, and start the greening...A Spring delight here. Brown to Green. All for now. Have a Wonderful May. meg

March 2016

3.18.16

It's been awhile since I have posted in the land of sparse news.

There was a "Quintessential Town Meeting" in Monkton, Vermont that I have once again boycotted. That's part of the plan, you know, to steer the town business the way of the chosen few. I gave up, quit, starvation of my political desires. Forget it. I can't. It's hard to explain all this. You may think I am being whiny, intolerant. ignorant...

No, I am frustrated. How can one person one vote by transferred to the mass in the school auditorium? If you're still confused, that, too is part of the plan. No wonder I haven't written updates in the Chronicles.

Keep tuned...spring is on the way. meg

February 2016

2.10.2016

Still more or less an open winter with spotty snowfalls in the Champlain Valley. Some cold air on the way to take us below zero.

We are now on the shorter side of winter. The daylight hours changing subtly at first, then all at once you notice. The snow that is lacking reminds me of how reflective snow is. South of here, blizzards and hurricanes. Guess it's nice for us to have a break.

The election timeline is fascinating, for a few seconds. Then it falls into a monotony. The major media outlets rake in the dough...strange that donations go to elect people. Or that a woman (Carly Fiorina) was excluded from the New Hampshire debate because of polls that in New Hampshire, are grossly inaccurate. Women were not outraged at Carly's being stifled or Sarah Palin being called dumb. There should be so surprise when Hilary is squashed like in 2008.

Enough for now. Healing with Knight Salve #5, probiotics, sunshine.

January 2016

01.21.16

Every winter in Vermont is tough, just for different reasons. This year we were not hardened off, so to speak. All of the sudden it got cold, over and over. Eek. Finally got to this chore. The town as relates to me, We sent in forms for absentee ballots. Why do we have to do this every year? I am still experimenting with salves, and other healing regimens. Time is the factor we surely cannot control. Today, breaks of sunlight is warm in a south window.We fight the pipeline, the state brought a stacked deck to the public service board of Yes.

All for now.

December 2015

12.31.2015

Our unusually mild weather has turned to more typical cold, rain and snow.

The last day of 2015 finds me upright and breathing. Skin in the healing mode, aided by salves and soaps I have put together. Avoiding the mainstream products when I can.

We had a low keyed Christmas. Turning in early for New Year's. Hope everyone is safe tonight. Tomorrow is 2016.

That is an interesting number, isn't it? meg

12.7.2015

The Sun is lower in the sky, air is colder. We are enjoying the warmer December. There will be colder days ahead. Have been blogging, tweeting, and attempted to get my Samsung phone to coordinate with clouds, kindles, PC's and a rusty brain.

News came hard that a friend, my blogger mentor, Herrad Ford had passed away after an illness. Please say a prayer for her husband who is hurting right now. I am working on a tribute post. It will come to me when it is good and ready. Sleep helps with expression. Does that make sense? I am tired. Done for the day. Well, done except for watching Scorpion and NCIS-LA, 2 of my favorite shows right now.

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